sbbike's quick release winter 015
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The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalitions quarterly publication is now here with an End of Year photo spread! Check it out.TRANSCRIPT
WINTER 2015-16 • Volume 25 / No. 4
SANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION
QuickRelease
SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION
BIKE
SBBIKE in 2015
2 Quick Release Winter 2015-16 www.SBBIKE.org 3
Thank you, Business Members and Supporters
PLATINUM MEMBERS
DIAMOND MEMBERS
Marcia Burtt Gallery
GOLD & CARBON FIBER MEMBERS
Rincon Cycle CapCranks Cory Motors
SILVER & ALUMINUM MEMBERS
ceramics
TITANIUM MEMBERS
BRONZE AND STEEL MEMBERS
Bildsten Architecture and Planning The Dirt Club Fastrack BicyclesHelloHarvest Hoffman Architecture
Horny ToadIsla Vista Food Coop Mesa ArchitectsMesa Business AssociationRevolution Coaching LLCPremier Business Marketing
REITailwinds Bicycle Club of Santa Maria True Nature Landscape Architecture
BOARDDavid Hodges, ChairCourtney Dietz, Vice ChairDavid Bourgeois, TreasurerByron BeckRobert CaizaDavid CampbellSue CarmodyHector GonzalezJohn HygelundTracey StrobelMike Vergeer
STAFFEd France, Executive [email protected]
Christine Bourgeois, Education [email protected]
Lynneal Williams and Rafaell Rozendo, Shop [email protected]
Howard Booth, Membership [email protected]
Joey Juhasz-Lukomski, Operations Manager [email protected]
Eve Sanford, Advocacy Associate [email protected]
GOVT. LIAISONS & ADVISORSMatt Dobberteen, AdvisorCounty of Santa [email protected]
Kent Epperson, AdvisorTraffic [email protected]
Teresa Lopes, AdvisorCity of [email protected]
Amy Steinfeld Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
ART DIRECTORCynthia Stahl, [email protected]
MANAGING EDITORHolly Starley, [email protected]
CONTACT US506 E. Haley St.Santa Barbara, CA 93103
PO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190
www.sbbike.orgSBBIKE: 805-845-8955Bici Centro: 805-617-3225
CONTRIBUTEYour time: www.sbbike.org/volunteerFinancially: www.sbbike.org/donate
Letter from the EditorThe Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is now 1,100 plus
members strong. This year, those members—you—
have united, giving your time, your voices, and your
courage to ensure the community’s public roads
include the needs of everyone in the community.
Because of you (because it is clear that you will persist
over the next critical months) Santa Barbarans will
finally have quality infrastructure that gives people
equality of options for how they wish to travel. The
hundreds of commuters who bike to work because
it is their only affordable option. The hundreds more who bike for convenience,
for their health, for the health of the environment. The scores who would choose
trips on bike if the routes felt safe. The slew of young adults who are making
transportation choices in an economic and political climate that is much different
than the one in which previous generations came of age. Everyone who bikes.
Because of you, they will be able to ride safely and conveniently alongside the rest of
the traffic on our public thoroughfares.
Because of your membership, support, volunteer hours, and donations, over four
hundred youth and adults have learned how to cycle safely this year. Three hundred
plus commuters won’t be riding without lights. Hundreds of cyclists had access
to affordable parts and mechanical aid so they could repair their own bikes. And
hundreds more were able to purchase the bicycles they needed.
In a time when there’s much in the news and on our social media feeds to be
dismayed about, being privy to the inner working of an organization dedicated to
community and inclusivity is rejuvenating. Enumerating the fruits of that dedication
is a privilege and an inspiration.
With gratitude,
Holly Starley
Our Vision
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBIKE) vision is that Santa Barbara will be a
leader in creating a bicycle-friendly community and transportation system. Extensive
on-road and separated bikeways, a coordinated transit system, parking, and amenities
allow us to enjoy a culture where the majority of daily trips include a bicycle. As
a result, our community is healthier and encourages balanced living within our
resources. Universal cycling education for all ages supports the development of
safe and respectful road behaviors from both motorists and cyclists. Widespread
community and political support for bicycling is in place. By 2040, because it is a
cycling-centered county, Santa Barbara is both a great place to live and work and a
nationally acclaimed cycling destination, boasting a year-round calendar of successful,
fun, and inclusive events.
COVER PHOTO: The lights shared with commuters during SBBIKE’s countywide light distribution, Iluminando la Noche. JAN SILK. BACK COVER PHOTOS: Summit engagers. MICHAEL MONTENEGRO. Bici Centro volunteer. STEPHEN LEWIS. Board member. PAUL KINGSLEY. Iluminando participant. PAUL WELLMAN. Riviera Youth Bike Team member. CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS.
Waynes Pro Bike
4 Quick Release Winter 2015-16 www.SBBIKE.org 5
Goleta
Santa Barbara
Carpinteria
ADVOCACYADVOCACY
Connecting Our Community
“If it’s identified, close it.”
This was SBBIKE Executive Director Ed France’s response when planners pressed
him to specify each route Santa Barbara’s Bike Master Plan (BMP) should include.
Closure of all gaps in the City of Santa Barbara’s bicycle network. It’s what the
community has asked for. It’s our vision. An integrated bikeway network along
the South Coast will not only make bicycling possible for anyone who chooses to
ride, it will also reduce congestion and pollution for everyone. With your support,
SBBIKE’s advocacy leadership is closing the gaps and Connecting Our Community.
In 2015, we: | Put bold back into the Bicycle
Master Plan, defending
overwhelming public input for a
strong and effective plan from the
quiet removal of key elements
| Helped bring $14 million of state
and federal funding to the South
Coast for cycling projects
| Opened 3 miles of Coastal
Route bike path at Rincon to
be named in honor of SBBIKE’s
founder, Ralph Fertig
The City of Santa Barbara’s BMP is a key part of
Connecting Our Community. Thousands of hours
of public participation are ensuring it matches the
community’s vision. Public input highlights:
| 1,440 – Participated in the BMP survey
| 500 – Participated in the Stand Up for Cycling
photo shoot
| 450 – Attended summits, roadshows, and
neighborhood meetings conducted from May
to November
| 36 – Spoke at a joint Planning Commission
and Transportation and Circulation
Committee meeting, calling for the plan to
reflect the results of that participation
Right now is a consequential moment for cycling in Santa
Barbara County. The Connecting Our Community
campaign is entering a make or break year to complete
our Coastal Route and crosstown bikeways. SBBIKE will
make sure that within the next few months Santa Barbara passes a strong and effective
bike plan that builds bike lanes—closing key gaps—in 2016. As the pressure ramps up,
SBBIKE will continue to defend public input asking for safe, continuous bikeways.
Keep standing with SBBIKE as we face critical battles in 2016. We have a clear vision
and a proven track record. We can realize that vision.
Together in 2016, we will:
| Build another 3 miles of
protected bikeways on the
Coastal Route
| Complete the Eastside-
Downtown green
lane connectors
| Complete the Westside-
Downtown green lane connectors
| Implement a safe Westside bicycle route to City College
| Help pass a bold BMP in Santa Barbara
| Support the development of the Goleta BMP
Join us: Your efforts are key to Connecting Our Community. Upcoming opportunities include speaking at critical BMP meetings like Santa Barbara’s February City Council. We’ll keep you posted with countywide opportunities at sbbike.org.
Photos MICHAEL MONTENEGRO
Photo MICHAEL MONTENEGRO
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OUTREACH
I luminando La Noche (Light Up the Night) is part
of the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition’s answer
to an important question: How can bike advocacy
include the people who can’t afford to get involved?
US Census Bureau data (2014) show a large share
of bicycle commuters live in working class, lower-
income households. How can advocates engage the
men and women who bike because it is their only
means of transportation, whose commitments don’t
allow them to show up at City Hall?
In early November, bilingual volunteers hosted
SBBIKE’s fifth annual Iluminando. More than 300
Santa Barbarans, the majority of whom bike because
it is their only means of transportation, will now be
more visible when they ride after dark. SBBIKE talked
with these cyclists and collected data to ensure they
are also a more visible part of advocacy efforts.
Photos PAUL WELLMAN
Well-Lit Commuters
Of the 57 children 15
and under who came to
Iluminando, 27% ride their
bikes to school.
Children made up 20% of light recipients.
OUTREACH
Of the 282 adults surveyed, 52% don’t have access to a car, and 65% bike to work. Getting to work
was the number one reason cited for cycling. Other primary reasons for cycling included recreation,
exercise, and fun (28%); getting to school (9%); and running errands (9%).
8 Quick Release Winter 2015-16 www.SBBIKE.org 9
EDUCATION
Teaching people to bike confidently and legally
makes them safer road users. Because of
SBBIKE’s thriving education mainstays, in 2015:
| New instructors trained: 9
| LCIs, many bilingual, available to teach: 42
| Families served at 6 Bici Familias: 215
| Youth graduated from Pedal Powers: 104
| Adult Street Skills students: 264
And, when a teacher takes students on bike
field trips or a team of young riders is formed,
SBBIKE sends LCIs to support the efforts
of people who are passionate about bike
education—helping grow the number of safe
cycling ambassadors traveling our public roads.
Obeying traffic laws
ABC Quick Check
Safety gear
Staying alert
Sharing the road with auto traffic
For a week in November, Adams Elementary PE teacher, Julie Churchman, led a daily field trip of a dozen sixth graders from the school on Las Positas, along State Street to Stearn’s Wharf, and onto the bike path toward their final destination East Beach. SBBIKE LCIs accompanied each group, and along the way, Adams and the LCIs offered advice as the young cyclists navigated real-world scenarios. Photo by MIKE VERGEER
A field trip. To the beach. On bike!
Photos by HOLLY STARLEY
In January. With new instructor, Jim C. More at sbbike.org/learnyourbike.
LEARN YOUR BIKE IS BACK!
EDUCATION
Safe Cycling Ambassadors
RYBT
of garnering successes,
In October, the Riviera Youth Bike Team rode SB100’s
34-mile course with LCI instructors Zack Bertges, Felicia
Tan, Mike Vergeer, Barry Remis, and Blaine Egan.
of involving family in their work,
For months, 15 young
cyclists, ages 10 to 12,
trained.
Photos by CHRISTINE BOURGEOIS
These young cyclists
learned the value of
preparation and teamwork,
and of giving back. Since the race, RYBT has gathered for
community service projects.
w
as born this summer
.
Check out the “Riviera Youth Bike Team 2015 Recap” on YouTube.
10 Quick Release Winter 2015-16 www.SBBIKE.org 11
BICI CENTRO
Volunteer Wrenchers
Satellite shops operating: 2
SBici at SB High School and Bici at City College
Donated bikes refurbished back into the
community: 632*
DIY shop users (Bici + SBCC’s Bici): 4,314**
Volunteer registrants for all SBBIKE events:
1,484**
(*Bicycles and parts are either earned through youth
education classes or work trade or sold modestly to fund the Bici Centro
Shop and youth education programming.)
(**Shop users includes repeat users and
volunteers include multiple registrations for one
volunteer)
Vo lunteering is voting for the
kind of you community you
want to live in. Every Tuesday,
Bici Centro’s volunteer wrenchers
rebuild donated bikes, creating
the fleets for earn-a-bike youth
programs, giveaways, and the
affordable retail bikes on offer to the
community.
Photos STEPHEN LEWIS.
Rafaell Rozendo first came to Bici to build his own bike. He was hooked. “Seeing this place and how awesome an asset it is to the community, you just want to grow it,” he says.
Lynneal Williams, who spent the summer working at a bike shop in Mexico, misses the random chaos but is grateful for Bici’s organization, volunteers, and how smoothly the shop runs. Lynneal is one of three women on staff at Bici, and she’s dedicated to helping women feel comfortable repairing their bikes.
Nolan Lamb particularly enjoys volunteering on DIY Open Shop days, when he can teach people bike mechanics. Getting more bikes on the road is important to him. And his gentle tone and calm manner suggest he’s easy to learn from.
Shop supervisors Rafaell and Lynneal are both bilingual.
BICI CENTRO
Because of your sponsorship, memberships, and donations, SBBIKE’s advocacy, outreach, education, and shop programs have made phenomenal strides in Santa Barbara’s community in 2015. Help make SBBIKE's 2016 even stronger!
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(business)
address
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or donate online: www.sbbike.org
SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION
BIKE
Make check payable to the Santa Barbara Bicycle CoalitionPO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047
The Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation, so donations are tax deductable as allowed by law.
Yes! I support cycling! o $100 o $250 o $500 o Other $
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Bob “the Sloth” Zimels worked with Safe Routes to School for over a decade. Volunteering at the shop allows him to continue helping young cyclists. He calls himself the local gadfly, referring to his persistence getting road leaks that made for unsafe riding repaired. Bob is a guitarist known for his bawdy tunes and nicknamed Sloth for a Broadway song he’s played for forty years. He rarely remembers gloves and has to clean his hands multiple times so he can play.
For Russell Stephens, volunteering at Bici is part of a rehabilitation program. The shop is a perfect fit. He bikes everywhere (and has the calves to prove it). Plus, he’ll soon be studying automotive repair at SBCC. He enjoys Bici’s fast-paced learning environment and is grateful for the opportunities life is affording him.
Like many Bici volunteers, John Fernandez discovered the shop when he came to work on a bike. He saw an opportunity to apply his skills and learn more. John likes the idea of a bike he’s worked on being sold to someone who really needs one. “You don’t need a car in this town.” His eyes brighten. “With a bike, you get the best parking spots. And you don’t have to worry about traffic.”
In 2015
Attend free workshops at Bici Centro every Tuesday. Workshops will run from 5–6 or 5:30–6:30, and registration isn’t required. Show up and learn with Bici volunteers.
Santa Barbara Bicycle CoalitionPO Box 92047Santa Barbara, CA 93190-2047
SBSANTA BARBARA BICYCLE COALITION
BIKE
For your voices, for being a part of SBBIKE, for making our community a better place to
live and ride, thank you.